May 20, 2026

For community financial institutions, the conversation around the future of AI in banking is no longer theoretical. Leaders are asking practical questions about how AI helps banks operate more efficiently, where it delivers measurable value and how it can be applied while maintaining transparency and trust. Nowhere is transparency more important than in a community financial institution’s CECL calculation.

It appears that, if the nominee for the next Federal Reserve chairman is confirmed by the Senate, he will have to roll up his sleeves to achieve some of his monetary policy priorities. Not that Kevin Warsh isn’t up to the task. He served on the Fed’s board of governors for five years, from 2006 to 2011, before returning to academia, and so has first-hand experience with the workings of the board. This is unusual, but not unprecedented; two recent Fed chairmen, Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen, served as governors, left and returned to lead the Fed.

As financial services continue to shift, community banks are positioned to be the anchors for the industry, supporting our customers and communities with a resiliency that transcends the environment. By continuing to lean into the personal relationships we build, we differentiate ourselves and bring immense value to those we serve.